Dragon's Kin (The Dragonriders of Pern)
by Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey
List Price:
Our Price: $3.38
You Save: $4.61 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffreyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-12-28
ISBN: 0345462009
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of Dragon's Kin (The Dragonriders of Pern)
Book Review: Of Watch-Whers and One Gifted Girl
Summary: 3 Stars
Before looking into DRAGON'S KIN, let us remind ourselves that this is a science fiction novel, designed for recreational reading, intended to be a diversion from concerns of our workaday world. As such, it escapes some of the criteria that we would apply to an analysis of a so-called serious novel, yet there is one that it must certainly meet if it is to be adjudged a success, and that is that the reader must enjoy his experience with it. To enjoy the story, two further criteria must be met, first that the story line and the characters be treated in a believable manner; that is, human characters must act like humans and non-human characters must act in a way that appears real and natural for their kind; second, that the flow of the story must be continuous without needless diversions and must be neatly wrapped up at its end.
With these criteria in mind, then, how shall we rate DRAGON'S KIN? By and large, the characters, both human and non, are interestingly drawn and react realistically enough with one another. If there is a weakness in this area, perhaps it is an inadequate explanation of Miner Natalon's bizarre decision to hide his blind daughter from the rest of the Camp. He so fears the exposure of her existence that he is willing to abide the crafty subversion of his uncle, who undermines the Camp leader's authority and influence at every opportunity. This behavior seems aberrant, especially when contrasted with Natalon's other personality and leadership traits, all of which are quite positive.
Greater weaknesses exist in the development of the story line and in the denouement at the end. Some apparently significant events fade away into nothingness as the novel progresses. For example, Kindan and Nuella absolutely enchant both Miners and Traders at the Gather when they sing and play "The Morning Dragon Song," a tune that carries significant emotional import for Kindan. The stage is set for both of these youngsters to become Master Harpers, perhaps remaining together to work their magic at other Gathers through the years, breaking the tradition of single Harpers being assigned to any one Hold or Weyr. Yet, despite the unprecedented success of their performance, never do we see them play together again.
Another example of a disappearing story line is the dragonriders' overheard conversation that alerts us to the fact that a girl with the potential to be the rider of a gold dragon, a queen, is in Camp Natalon but that she is always in darkness. Nuella's ability to befriend watch-whers, to communicate with them, and to teach them and their bonded humans to do likewise reinforces the reader's expectation that she herself will become a dragonrider, demonstrating that a blind rider need not be a strange concept after all. Alas, the dragonriders' conversation dies out in the night and nothing comes of this strong foreshadowing.
Speaking of dying out in the night, we cannot ignore the treatment of Tarik, Natalon's hostile uncle, or perhaps we should say the lack of adequate treatment of his character. At the conclusion of the novel, as Nuella and her band of supporters work to free Natalon and other trapped miners from the cave-in caused by Tarik's improper tunneling, we learn that Tarik is pumping air into the mine, increasing the probability of a disastrous explosion that would surely kill the surviving miners along with their would-be rescuers! However, following the successful rescue, Tarik is never mentioned again. Rather than being placed under arrest for the attempted murder of Natalon and his crew, he, like the prediction of the gold dragonrider, silently vanishes from the story, a character apparently forgotten and abandoned by the authors.
While, overall, I could lose myself in the story of DRAGON'S KIN and generally enjoyed the escapist recreational reading experience it provided, I cannot overlook the loose ends and the undeveloped and dropped threads that the authors began to weave into the story only to seemingly forget all about them after a few pages. Add to this the fact that the last chapter seems rushed, as though the authors felt that they must hurry away from their writing desks to catch the last train to the coast or some such thing, and we see that what could have been a delightful novel ends up as a rather mediocre one after all. I fear that Anne McCaffrey has lost her touch and that Todd McCaffrey has not yet found his. Still, for the entertaining look at the young watch-wher and for the enchanting character of Nuella, I feel easy in rating DRAGON'S KIN as a three-star read.
Summary of Dragon's Kin (The Dragonriders of Pern)
Beginning with the classic Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey has created a complex, endlessly fascinating world uniting humans and great telepathic dragons. Millions of devoted readers have soared on the glittering wings of Anne?s imagination, following book by book the evolution of one of science fiction?s most beloved and honored series. Now, for the first time, Anne has invited another writer to join her in the skies of Pern, a writer with an intimate knowledge of Pern and its history: her son, Todd.DRAGON?S KIN
Young Kindan has no expectations other than joining his father in the mines of Camp Natalon, a coal mining settlement struggling to turn a profit far from the great Holds where the presence of dragons and their riders means safety and civilization. Mining is fraught with danger. Fortunately, the camp has a watch-wher, a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to specialized work in the dark, cold mineshafts. Kindan?s father is the watch-wher?s handler, and his son sometimes helps him out. But even that important job promises no opportunity outside the mine.
Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant, Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. Fathers are replaced by sons in the mine?except for Kindan, who is taken in by the camp?s new Harper. Grieving, Kindan finds a measure of solace in a burgeoning musical talent . . . and in a new friendship with Nuella, a mysterious girl no one seems to know exists. It is Nuella who assists Kindan when he is selected to hatch and train a new watch-wher, a job that forces him to give up his dream of becoming a Harper; and it is Nuella who helps him give new meaning to his life.
Meanwhile, sparked by the tragedy, long-simmering tensions are dividing the camp. Far below the surface, a group of resentful miners hides a deadly secret. As warring factions threaten to explode, Nuella and Kindan begin to discover unknown talents in the misunderstood watch-wher?talents that could very well save an entire Hold. During their time teaching the watch-wher, the two learn some things themselves: that even a seemingly impossible dream is never completely out of reach . . . and that light can be found even in darkness.
From the Hardcover edition.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.67
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
A Gift of Dragons (Pern)by Anne McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2002-10-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.88
Price in other shops:
The Masterharper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)by Anne McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 1998-11-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.25
Price in other shops:
The Chronicles of Pern: First Fallby Anne McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 1994-08-29; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.34
Price in other shops:
The Skies of Pernby Anne McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2002-01-02; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.74
Price in other shops:
Dragonseye (Pern)by Anne McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 1997-12-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.85
Price in other shops:
Dragon Harper (The Dragonriders of Pern)by Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2008-09-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.59
Price in other shops:
Dragonsblood (Pern)by Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2006-06-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.36
Price in other shops:
Dragon's Fire (The Dragonriders of Pern)by Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2007-11-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
Dragonheart: Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern (The Dragonriders of Pern)by Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2009-10-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.93
Price in other shops:
Dragongirl (The Dragonriders of Pern)by Todd J. McCaffrey
Del Rey; Published: 2011-06-07; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.39
Price in other shops: